After looking in to various breeds for my next dog (I have a list of top 10 left to research!), the Ibizan hound and Pharaoh hound look fairly similar in looks and temperament. I was just wondering if anyone has any experience with these two breeds? Any insight would be helpful, back to researching now!

Well they are both sighthounds with the sort of problems that sight hounds can have but apart from that they are very different, well they are to me particularly the front assembly. Temperament wise they are similar but you will find both are not that easy to come by particularly the Ibizan. If you like the racy look you may find the greyhound a better bet, easier to come by and generally calmer.

As a matter of interest what are the other breeds you are interested in?

I'm okay with waiting for the right puppy, I'm just planning a couple of years ahead since a family member has been taken ill and I've took in their elderly dog. A variation of breeds really, I can't say I'm a person who has a distinct type of dog they like. My final 10 which I'm looking in to further are as follows; Ibizan hound, Pharaoh hound, basenji, deerhound, Norwegian elkhound, Nova Scotia duck tolling retriever, finish lapphund, finish spitz, Norwegian buhund and Pembroke welsh corgis. A mixed bag I know :) but after speaking to people at crufts these made the list. I'm not really keen on greyhounds (sorry to the fans out there).

So apart from the retriever you are into sighthounds or spitz types, that is a wide selection of different dogs what is the main requirement you want from a dog? If we know what it is you want a dog to be and the sort of activities you may wish to do with your dog we could perhaps advise what would and would not be suitable for your requirements. Also as some of the dogs you have listed are apt to be noisy are you detached or do you need to think of the neighbours, also will it be an only dog?

We live in a detached house, surrounded by fields and wooded areas and theres nobody else around for a good ten minute walk. I wish to show, I don't want a dog which requires too much grooming nor do I want one which involves trimming. Like I previously stated I have taken on an elderly relatives elderly dog, they will not be the only dog as we have a year old male caucasian ovcharka but I won't be taking on another puppy till the older one had passed on to rainbow bridge, it's not fair on him. I will admit my favourites are either the pharaoh or the retriever!

I have a bit of a yen for a Toller as well. We've decided to continue with GR's as we are used to them and know what to expect and have chosen a breeder, just waiting for the mum to oblige and come onto season. There's just that little bit of me that keeps on yenning.

The two breeds are very different and both are nothing like your Caucasian Ovcharka who will still have a lot of growing up to do. To make full use of your access to open spaces the retriever would be the best choice, a hound of any breed could be a problem although a few among those listed that would be fine off lead with training, there are others that would not unless you just happened to strike lucky.

The Tollers I've known tend to be quite noisy, especially when left (a horrible high pitched bark, yuk!).

For a smaller version most similar to the Pharaoh is the Cirneco Del Etna which is
Whippet size.

All three breeds are bred in low numbers as they are an aficionados bred and demand is small, so most breeders only breed when they have more than a full order for any likely puppies.  the two larger breeds could of course have largish litters of pups that are not the easiest to find the right kind of knowledgeable home for, so breeders tend not to take th risk of breeding until they feel they really need to have another puppy to carry on with.

The above comments apply a little less to the Cineco, being a smaller breed, more easily accommodated.

Very few show Greyhound litters are bred also, mainly due to the fact that those simply wanting a pet only can easily source one from those rescuing ex racers.

I've been whittling down my next dog list too, I've found excluding some breeds through health issues and life span has reduced the list considerably.

I will take another look at the Cinerco. I will admit that I'm finding it difficult to pick a breed with so many wonderful choices about! The two dogs we currently own were not my choice, the elderly dog we adopted after my relative had a stroke and become wheelchair bound, he is taken to see her every week and she is concentrating on getting better rather than where he dog is :). The young Ovcharka was brought by a family friend with no prior research in to the breed, they had him less than a week befor they decided he was too much of a handful! So we took him on and he's the most delightful calm and loving dog you could ever meet but he sort of fell on us. I'm finding it quite a challenge and a pleasure reading in to the numerous breeds available.

Have you attended any shows.  We have Birmingham National coming up (hounds Thursday 9th May) at Stafford County showground.  then there is Bath championship show on Monday 27th at Bannerdown near Collerne Bath.

It really is the best place to see any of the breed, and more importantly to make contact with breeders and exhibitors (it shows a real interest in researching the right breed, always something that is a plus for any breeder considering you as an owner).

If you want to show it may be better to get a more popular breed that have their own classes.

Both Pharoah's and Ibizans have Championship status,a dn I think teh Cirneco are now off the import register, though not sure.

I've attended crufts for the last 9 years as well as numerous other championship shows over the years. I've been an avid follower of the dog show scene since I was about 8 years old! And I'm not sure if I can state my age on here but I'm only early twenties now! My wish list is just getting longer rather than shorter every time I pick up my kennel club breed standard book :( oh well, at least the time will pay off when I finally get my pup :)